Description
Ukrainian pressing with slipcase
This dvd features all of the existing film footage from Jimi Hendrix Experience’s breakthrough appearance at the Monterey International Pop Festival on June 18, 1967. Although Hendrix had become a star in the U.K., he was largely unknown in his home country. He had, however, already been signed to Reprise, which had issued his debut American single, Hey Joe, on May 1, 1967. That’s why he says, It’s “Hey Joe that really brought us here” in introducing the song. A Top 40 hit for the Leaves in 1966, it had not, however, become a hit for Hendrix as it had in the U.K. Of course, his version was a distinct reinterpretation. He also played his next American single, Purple Haze, due for release the next day. It would become his first 45 to chart in the U.S. And he oriented his set somewhat for American ears, including such familiar songs as Like a Rolling Stone and Wild Thing, as well as the blues standards Killing Floor (by Howlin Wolf) and Rock Me Baby (by B.B. King). His most recent U.K. hit, The Wind Cries Mary, was included, as was Foxey Lady, which would follow Purple Haze into the U.S. charts. So, the set was well chosen to introduce him to an American audience, even if that audience reacted in understandable amazement encountering a style of guitar playing hitherto unimagined and a flamboyant performance that culminated in a guitar doused in lighter fluid and going up in flames. While this complete performance only has nine tracks, it is one of the greatest live performances that Jimi gave. The intensity is there from start to finish and, yes, you can’t deny the historical significance of this performance either. It was the first time that the band had played in the States, after being discovered by Chas Chandler of The Animals and going to England to record their stunning debut album, Are You Experienced? For many, this is one of THE greatest live sets in the history of rock music,ever,by anyone and I would agree. When he starts, the audience don’t really know who he is. When he finishes, he is already a living legend. And even after 50 years Hendrix’s playing still has the power to astonish the listener. The dvd material is taken from a newly transferred from the original 16mm camera reversal, re-edited and presented in its original performance sequence. The audio soundtrack features a new 5.1 and 2.0 stereo soundtrack mixed by Eddie Kramer, Jimi’s original engineer.
Track list:
1. Introduction By Brian Jones
2. Killing Floor
3. Foxey Lady
4. Like A Rolling Stone
5. Rock Me Baby
6. Hey Joe
7. The Wind Cries Mary
8. Purple Haze
9. Wild Thing